“Hey, Cap, have you seen Y/N?” Tony strutted into the common area, attention on the tablet in his hands. No doubt he was working on some new project. Several moments of silence passed with no answer. Finally, Tony looked up from the screen to take in Steve’s thoughtful expression. “Steve!” The man in question started and looked up at him.
“I’m sorry what?” Steve blinked rapidly. Tony rolled his eyes.
“Have you seen Y/N? I can’t find her anywhere.” Tony waited, watching Steve work the muscles in his jaw. “Steve!” Steve looked at him again. “I know it’s a hard question, but I know if you dig really deep- “
“She left, Tony.” With a shrug of his shoulders, Tony returned his attention to his tablet and turned to go back to the lab.
“Okay. I’ll catch her later. Thanks, Cap.”
“No, Tony. You won’t catch her later.” Steve cleared his throat. Freezing, Tony placed his tablet on a nearby table before turning back to face the captain. Steve stood and squared his shoulders.
“Just what are you trying to get at, Steve?” Tony crossed his arms and drilled Steve with a serious expression. Steve refused to back down and met him with steady eye contact.
“She’s gone, Tony.” Steve shifted and widened his stance. Tony tensed and his eyes shifted around the room looking at his other friends. Wanda sat perched on the edge of a love seat watching the two nervously, and Vision stood next to her with his hand on her shoulder. Shaking his head, Tony ran a hand over his face and stepped closer to Steve.
“Gone?” He said in a low tone. Neither man was willing to give an inch, leading to an intense staring match. Vision looked at Wanda, and the two had a silent exchange. Clearing his throat and patting her on the shoulder he took a step forward.
“If I might interject gentlemen.” He proffered. The two testosterone bound men’s heads snapped towards his voice in unison. It might have been one of the few times they were ever in an accord about something. “Mr. Stark,” Vision faced his ‘father’ “I believe what Captain Rogers is trying to say, is that Dr. L/N packed her bags approximately six hours ago and has since left the premises.” Tony turned away, running a hand through his hair and staring at the ceiling.
“Friday?” He called out.
“Yes, boss?” The A.I.’s accented voice came through the ceiling loud and clear.
“Why am I just now being made aware of Dr. L/N’s departure?”
“Dr. L/N requested that her departure not be announced.”
“Did Dr. L/N leave an address for where she might be going?”
“No, boss.” Tony turned to Steve and came chest to chest with the taller man. Narrowing his eyes, he gave him a scathing look.
“You know where she is don’t you, Rogers?” Tony lowered his voice. Steve merely stared back at him.
“Yes.”
“And you wouldn’t care to divulge that information to me, would you?”
“She wants to be left alone, Tony. Can’t you respect that?” Tony clenched his jaw and closed his eyes.
“What do you think?”
“Gentlemen, if I might interject again,” Vision stepped forward again. Tony turned and pointed a finger at him.
“Not now, Junior, the grownups are talking.” Vision blinked rapidly opening and closing his mouth several times. Wanda had gingerly crept up behind him, and now was reaching for his hand to lead him away from the conflict playing out in front of them.
“Vis, let’s go.” Gently tugging on his hand, she pulled the still confused synthezoid from the room. When Wanda and Vision were safely gone, Tony threw Steve another angry look. Storming back to the table where he had put his tablet, he snatched it up and began typing furiously.
“You’re not going to leave her alone, are you?” Steve called from across the room. Tony looked up from his tablet briefly.
“We are not on speaking terms right now, Rogers.”
“I’ll do what I need to, to protect her privacy, Tony.” Steve rolled his shoulder and jerked his head to the side slightly.
“Don’t worry about me, Rogers, worry about yourself.” Tony spat before storming out of the common room.